What’s the best piece of leadership advice you’ve ever received? Mine came wrapped in a line that — at first — didn’t sound like good advice at all.

“If it can be solved with money, then it’s not a problem at all.”

I still remember the moment a former boss said that to me. My gut reaction? Disbelief. It felt flippant. Dismissive. Maybe even a little arrogant.

But oddly enough, I’ve never forgotten it. And over the years, that sentence has taken on a new meaning for me — one that’s changed the way I lead, especially in high-pressure situations.

Why it sounded wrong — but wasn’t

Let’s face it: when you first hear someone say “it’s not a problem if money can fix it,” it feels tone-deaf. Money is a real issue for many people. Most teams, companies, and individuals operate within limits — budget constraints, staffing challenges, resource gaps. So how could this possibly be helpful advice?

But the power of that sentence doesn’t lie in the money. It lies in the mindset shift it represents. It asks us to look beyond the problem in front of us, and consider:

“Is this truly a crisis — or just something that feels big in the moment?”

Reframing problems is a leadership superpower

As leaders, we’re often expected to have answers. But what’s more important is helping others gain clarity — especially when emotions run high and time runs short.

Over the years, I’ve learned that the ability to reframe a problem is one of the most valuable skills a leader can develop. Here’s how this mindset has helped me:

• It prevents panic when something doesn’t go to plan.
• It helps me sort through urgency vs. importance.
• It encourages creative thinking — because if the real constraint isn’t money, then maybe it’s mindset, process, or priorities.

I’ve come to realise that not all problems are equal — and not all fires are crises.

A real example: 17+ years of pressure, perspective, and problem-solving

Before I moved into agency life, I spent 17+ years in the events management sector — a world where the unexpected isn’t the exception, it’s the norm. And that one line of advice — “If it can be solved with money, it’s not a problem” — saved me more times than I can count.

Things went wrong. People dropped the ball. Chaos happened. But perspective? That’s what got us through.

Like the time the artist we had engaged to emcee a high-profile program didn’t get picked up — and no one realised until it was almost showtime. Cue panic. We got them there in time. Crisis averted. Problem solved.

Or the time a consumer lucky draw didn’t go as expected, and the crowd turned. People were upset, calling for explanations, ready to escalate. We stepped in, communicated quickly and transparently, reshaped the experience, and turned the tide. Tense? Yes. But again — solvable.

In those moments, it was tempting to treat everything like a full-blown crisis. But with the right mindset, I learned to separate emotion from action. Most problems weren’t unsolvable. They just felt bigger than they were.

What this mindset really teaches

The quote isn’t really about money. It’s about asking a better question:

“What kind of problem is this — and how should I respond?”

When something can be solved with a budget decision, a resource shift, or a change in approach, it’s not a disaster. It’s a decision. A trade-off. A chance to lead with clarity rather than fear.

Real leadership problems are the ones that hit deeper:

• A breakdown in trust
• A loss of purpose or direction
• A culture that stops learning or listening

Everything else? It’s manageable — if we can stay calm enough to see the solution.

Practical takeaway: the question I ask myself now

Whenever I feel the tension rise — in a meeting, on a call, during a campaign setback — I pause and ask:

“Is this a true problem? Or just a challenge that looks big right now?”

That single question often reframes everything. It reminds me that perspective is powerful. That panic rarely leads to good decisions. And that most of the time, we’re not facing disaster — we’re just facing a decision.

Putting it into perspective

This quote may not land well with everyone, and that’s okay. But for me, it’s become a quiet mental filter I return to — especially when everything feels urgent and emotional.

It reminds me that not all problems are created equal. That some challenges are just logistical. Solvable. Fixable. And that the real work of leadership is learning how to tell the difference.

The most useful advice isn’t always the loudest or most popular. Sometimes, it’s the quiet, slightly uncomfortable one-liner that helps you see things more clearly — right when it matters most.